Blind repair apparatus and method

Abstract

A blind repair device for repairing a vane of a blind system has a generally oblong body having a central opening, and a repair structure that can be aligned with a connection aperture of the vane. The repair device can be fit over and secured to the vane to align the repair structure with the connection aperture such that the ability of the vane to couple to a runner/hanger of the blind system is restored. The repair device can be expanded to more easily fit the vane through the central opening. The body of the device can be made of a resilient material, a rigid material, or a combination of resilient and rigid materials. The body can have gripping elements such as nodes, teeth, or a rough surface to secure the repair device to the vane.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A repair device for repairing a vane of a blind system, the vane having a connection aperture, comprising:
 a body having a generally oblong shape, the body having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, a first elongate portion spanning from the first end portion to the second end portion, and a second elongate portion spanning from the first end portion to the second end portion, wherein the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion each have a respective longitudinal axis extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, and wherein each of the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion is symmetrical about its respective longitudinal axis;   wherein the first and second elongate portions define a central opening therebetween extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the central opening configured to receive the vane therethrough; and   wherein the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion each have a respective upper edge and a respective lower edge, each respective upper edge defining a respective first notch and each respective lower edge defining a respective second notch, wherein the respective first and second notches are approximately midway between the first end portion and the second end portion;   wherein the first and second elongate portions each have a respective inner surface and outer surface, and wherein each respective first notch and second notch extends all the way from the respective inner surface to the respective outer surface, thereby forming a respective narrowed section of each of the first and second elongate portions, the respective narrowed sections thereby forming a reinforcement structure configured to be aligned with the connection aperture of the vane.   
     
     
         2 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises one or more cutouts for facilitating opening or expansion of the repair device for receiving the vane. 
     
     
         3 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises one or more gripping elements located on the inner surface of at least one of the first and second elongate portions for gripping the vane. 
     
     
         4 . The repair device of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more gripping elements comprise one or more teeth extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of at least one of the first and second elongate portions. 
     
     
         5 . The repair device of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more teeth comprise one or more arrays of teeth arranged in an opposing and alternating manner. 
     
     
         6 . The repair device of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more gripping elements comprise a plurality of nodes arranged along the inner surface of at least one of the first and second elongate portions. 
     
     
         7 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the repair device is made of at least a resilient material. 
     
     
         8 . The repair device of  claim 7 , wherein the body comprises flexible portions comprising the resilient material, and rigid portions comprising a rigid material. 
     
     
         9 . The repair device of  claim 8 , wherein the rigid portions comprise the resilient material reinforced with the rigid material. 
     
     
         10 . The repair device of  claim 8 , wherein the rigid portions comprise rigid material fixed to the resilient material. 
     
     
         11 . The repair device of  claim 8 , wherein the rigid portions comprise rigid material sandwiching the resilient material. 
     
     
         12 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the repair device is made of at least a rigid material. 
     
     
         13 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises at least one chamfered portion adjacent an inner surface of the body for facilitating the insertion of the vane into the central opening. 
     
     
         14 . The repair device of  claim 1 , wherein the body is curved. 
     
     
         15 . A repair device for repairing a vane of a blind system, the vane having a connection aperture, comprising:
 a body having a generally oblong shape, the body having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, a first elongate portion spanning from the first end portion to the second end portion, and a second elongate portion spanning from the first end portion to the second end portion, wherein the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion each have a respective longitudinal axis extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, and wherein each of the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion is symmetrical about its respective longitudinal axis;   wherein the first and second elongate portions define a central opening therebetween extending from the first end portion to the second end portion, the central opening configured to receive the vane therethrough;   wherein the body is actuable between an expanded position for receiving the vane therethrough, and a closed position for securing the repair device to the vane; and   wherein the first elongate portion and the second elongate portion each have a respective upper edge and a respective lower edge, each respective upper edge defining a respective first notch and each respective lower edge defining a respective second notch, wherein the respective first and second notches are approximately midway between the first end portion and the second end portion;   wherein the first and second elongate portions each have a respective inner surface and outer surface, and wherein each respective first notch and second notch extends all the way from the respective inner surface to the respective outer surface, thereby forming a respective narrowed section of each of the first and second elongate portions, the respective narrowed sections thereby forming a reinforcement structure configured to be aligned with the connection aperture of the vane.   
     
     
         16 . The repair device of  claim 15 , wherein the body is curved, and in the expanded position the first elongate portion of the body is deflected away from the second elongate portion of the body to expand the central opening. 
     
     
         17 . The repair device of  claim 15 , wherein the body comprises one or more cutouts for facilitating actuation of the repair device between the expanded and closed positions. 
     
     
         18 . The repair device of  claim 15 , wherein the repair device is made of at least a resilient material. 
     
     
         19 . The repair device of  claim 4 , wherein each tooth of the one or more teeth is a ridge that extends from the upper edge to the lower edge of the at least one of the first and second elongate portions. 
     
     
         20 . The repair device of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more teeth extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of at least one of the first and second elongate portions, wherein each tooth of the one or more teeth is a ridge that extends from the upper edge to the lower edge of the at least one of the first and second elongate portions.